Oct 1 1962
From The Space Library
Fourth official anniversary of NASA, charged by the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to organize and conduct U.S. space exploration for peaceful purposes. No new agency of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government was created by the transfer of so many units and programs of other departments or agencies as NASA.
Project Mercury flight officials studied tropical storm "Daisy," which continued moving west northwest about 300 mi. east of Puerto Rico, the general landing area for third orbit of Astronaut Walter M. Schirra's six-orbit MA-5 flight planned Oct. 3. Mercury Operations Director Walter C. Williams, indicating continuing surveillance of "Daisy," ordered preparations for the launch attempt to continue.
NASA Administrator James E. Webb, addressing the Greater Hartford (Conn.) Chamber of Commerce, said that the "habit of oversimplifying has carried over into the evaluation and understanding of our objectives in space. . . . Many of our citizens believe our major, and in some cases, our only purpose in space, to be one of winning, in a contest with the Soviet Union, 'a race to the moon.' . . . [This concept] overlooks the significant and seldom appreciated fact that learning how to get to the moon, developing the technology which will be required to get there, and employing this technology for many purposes in space, is more important than the lunar landing itself.. . .
"Characterization of our effort solely as a 'space race to the moon' also leads to the mistaken notion that the nation first to conduct a lunar exploration will have assured itself of ultimate and enduring Superiority in space. The fact is overlooked that landing men on the moon, although a great and challenging goal, is only one of many goals in space.. . .
"With the resources which are being applied, and knowledge of how those resources arc being utilized to mobilize our nation's scientific, technical and industrial strength, I am confident that we will achieve a space posture satisfactory to the United States given a continuation of our present efforts and support for those planned for future years. On the basis of what we know now of the scope of the Soviet Union's efforts, and of what is required to do the job, this country has a better than even chance to conduct the first manned exploration of the moon. For these reasons, I have said I believe we will be there first.
"But in saying this I do not want to fall into the same trap which has snared too many of us—that of again inviting a characterization of this broad and vital national effort as a spectacular `race to the moon."' He pointed out that President Kennedy did not set the national goal of "landing the first man on the moon." Rather, the President "stated our determination to attain 'a position of preeminence in space' and to become the world's leading spacefaring nation . . . .
"That is our objective—to develop superior competence in space which will be available for any national purpose which may be required, whether it be the peaceful utilization of space for the benefit of mankind, or to keep the peace and forestall its exploitation by any nation for aggressive purposes . . . ."
Nova launch facilities study contract was awarded to Martin-Marietta Corp., Denver, by NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. The study assumes Nova will be launched from Cape Canaveral.
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